Shigella toll rises in Kerala: Seven-year-old fourth victim this year

A seven-year-old boy in Kerala’s Malappuram district has succumbed to Shigella infection, marking the state’s fourth fatality from the disease this year. The child was admitted with fever and diarrhea, later diagnosed with the bacterial illness. Kerala has seen 138 confirmed Shigella cases so far in 2026, with ongoing surveillance and containment efforts in affected areas.